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Overview
This placard was carried on the Women's March on Washington in Wellington on 21 January 2017 from Parliament to Civic Square. 'He waka eke noa' is a Māori whakataukī (proverb) which means we are all in this together.
The Women's March was a global phenomenon which took place on the same day throughout the world featuring a broad coalition of nearly five million participants in over 600 Sister Marches in 60 countries on all seven continents. It was timed to protest the inauguration of the new United States president Donald Trump, and intended to send a message to his administration on its first day in office that women's rights are human rights.
'Sister Marches' took place across New Zealand with the largest marches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Their mission was to 'stand together in solidarity with our partners and children for the protection of our rights, our safety, our health, and our families - recognising that our vibrant and diverse communities are the strength of our country' (Women's March on Washington Aotearoa New Zealand Facebook).
Social media had enabled the idea to sweep rapidly across America and around the world. The original ethos of the Sister Marches was one of solidarity with America, but shifted to a global perspective, with many marchers concerned not only by Trump's misogynistic attitudes but his effect on global politics; rising far-right populism around the world; and local concerns over citizens' rights.
This placard was painted at a 'placard party' at the house of Kim Griggs, one of the Wellington organisers, to ensure there would be plenty of protest signs on the day of the march. They painted their messages with the correct pantone colours stipulated by the Women's March on Washington organisers who had designed a strong graphic identity which could be downloaded and shared anywhere in the world. The orange used in this placard was one of the three key colours (orange, dark blue and cream).
Carrying the placard
This placard was carried by Sydney Kingstone and her family. She observes: 'As a linguist and an American living permanently in Wellington, I was drawn to the whakataukī and its relevance as an intersectional statement of Māori-Pakeha solidarity, in addition to the New Zealand-America solidarity and the greater Women's March movements around the world. 'He waka eke noa'...signified to me a sense of support from my new home (New Zealand) for my homeland (America). As an AmeriKiwi family, we are deeply connected to both countries: to their cultures, their triumphs, and their struggles... I was deep within grief for my country, my American family and friends, and for my daughter's future in the days leading up to the march. Carrying the placard, participating in the Women's March with my husband and daughter, and debriefing the current events with fellow marchers allowed me to find my voice and channel my grief into positive action. The inclusion of Māori language was applauded by passersby, march participants, the media, and on social networks. I received a lot of positive comments regarding the sign, and I had a number of people ask to take our picture as we held the sign.'